Headlight and parts thereof



March 23, 1943.

M. P. Pom-Now 2,314,735 "HEADLIGHT AND PARTS THEREOF ATTORNEY March 23, 1943. M P ,PQRTNOW 2,314,735

HEADLIGHT AND PARTS THEREOF Filed Aug. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR A/f/M'de/ I? Parr/:ow BY W' ATTORNEY` vment and this type of lar and has a small recess Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT 1 OFFICE..

2,314,735 HEADLIGHT AND PARTS THEREOF Michael I. Portnow, Newark, N. J. Application August 9, 1941, Serial No. 406,693

2 Claims.

This invention relates to lighting devices and more particularly to those employed on vehicles and commonly termed headlights. In itsI more specic aspect this invention is directed -to a headlight of the sealed beam class.

The main object of this invention is to provide a sealed beam headlight having the following characteristics: (a) If any of its parts becomes damaged, it may be replaced, thus cbviating the necessity of replacing the entire headlight which is the present day practice, (b) when a prt is replaced, the new element will be in exactly the same position as the replaced elereplacement is fool-proof and can be carried out by any car user, and (c) the elements which make up the headlight are inexpensive and may be readily handled in the assembly and replacement operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel combination of lamp and locking device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel reflector.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a headlight embodying my invention, a part of the lens and the locating flange are broken away and the lamp has been omitted so that the relationship of the parts is more clearly ascertainable.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the headlight shown in Figure 1 and includes the lamp not shown in plan View.

Figure 3 is a rear plan view of the headlight shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the connector shown in Figures 1-3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view ofthe split spring ring shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a ring which is a modification of that shown in Figures 1-4.

.According to the invention a novel reflector I6 may be employed. The reflector IB is of preas the platform determined size and configuration and may be either metal or vitreous material, but I prefer that it be composed of a vitreous material such as glass or Lucite, both of which are transparent. The reflector I0 may be of parabolic or other desired geometric design and is preferably of substantially uniform thickness throughout. The lower or apex portion of the reflector I0 has a circular opening Il therein, and that portion thereof surrounding said opening has a shallow recess I2 which may be circu- I3 of the same depth composed of communicating with the circular recess I2. The rear of the reflector I0 below the recesses I2 and I3 is a smooth plane surface I4. A plurality of slots I5 extend through the lower portion of the reflector at the recessed portion thereof. shown in Figures land 3, there are three slots I5 which are of the same dimensions and are symmetrically disposed. Theupper part of the reflector I0 terminates in a narrow upstanding annular glass bead i6 concentric with the opening Il. l

Integral with the reflector HI and extending outwardly therefrom at the upper end thereof is annular glass flange I1 of appreciable width providing a platform or supporting upper plane face I8 and a lower plane face I9, with the upper face I8 located.r below the upper extremity of the annular bead I5. Integral with the reflector II'I and the flange I1 are two sets of glass lugs, with each set comprising lugs 2E), 2| and 2 2. The lugs 29 and 22 are narrower, thinner and more shallow than lug 2l and the outer side of all the lugs are located inwardly from outermost cylindrical face 23 of the flange I1. Between these two sets of three each are a pair of lugs 24 similar to lugs 2t and 22. These lugs 24 are also composed of glass and are integral with the reflector and the ange I1. The lugs 24 and the lugs 2U, 2| and 22 are each located at a predetermined annular position with respect to the focal point of the lens. rhe lugs 24 are spaced from each other as shown. The lugs 2| and the space between the lugs 24 are asymmetrically disposed. Mounted on the platform I8 and outside of the upstanding rim or bead I6 is a flat annular ring or gasket 25 composed of rubber, leather or like resilient material for making an air-tight joint. Demountably coupled with the reilector I0 is a lens 25 of predetermined contour and size. rThe lens 26 has an annular flange 21 of approximately the same diameter and width I8. A narrow annular glass bead or rim 28 depends from the flange 21 at the midwidth thereof.v YA small glass teat 2Q is integral with said lens and extends upwardlytherefrom and serves as a positioner so that the lens may be -mounted in one way only.

A clamping ring 3l! may be employed to couple the lens 26 to the reflector Ill. In coupling the lens'26 and reflector Il?, the gasket 25 lies flat on the platform I8 to cover most of the same. Then the lens 2t is mounted on the gasket 25 with the bead 28 thereof on the mid-width circumference of gasket 25. Then the split annular clamping ring 30 is snapped into place around the flanges I1 and 21. The clamp 3U may include a cylindrical split ring 3| whose circumferential length is a little less than the outer circumference of the flanges Il and 2l which are the same and whose width is a little less than the combined thickness of the flanges I'I and 2 and the gasket 25. The clamp 3i) also includes a pair of inwardly extending flanges 32 and 33 being integral with said ring 3! and extending inwardly therefrom. The flange 32 is of approximately the same Width as the flange I'I and is disposed at substantially right angles to the ring 3I. The flange 33 is relatively narrow and is disposed at right angles to the ring 3 I. Integral with the flange 32 at the ends thereof are a Vpair of upstanding ears 34 having openings 35 extending therethrough. The flange 32 has a slot 36 therethrough adjacent each ear 3ft and of such lengthwise dimension as to be just a little greater than the corresponding dimensions of the lugs 24. The ilange 32 has another pair of slots 37 therethrough of such lengthwise dimension as to be alittle greater than the corresponding overall dimension of the lugs 2I and '22. All of the slots Bil and 3l extend inwardly from the inner free edge of the flange 32 and terminate at a line appreciably inward from the outer eX- tremity of said flange 32. The slots 35 and '3? are spaced from each other a distance equal to the space between the lugs 24 and the lugs 2B, ZI and 22.

The flange 33 has a narrow slot 3d therein and adapted to accommodate the teat 2S. This slot bears a predetermined angular relationship with respect to the slots 35 and 3T. A bolt 39 may extend through the opening 35 in ears 34 and a nut is threadedly mounted thereon to pull the ends of the clamp 3i: toward each other.

VIn further accordance with the invention, I provide a lamp u having an envelope 4l, a pair of filaments d2, a cylindrical metal base 43 and three narrow blade contacts 44 secured to the lowerface of the base, extending downwardly therefrom and located within the cylinder if the base were downwardly extended. Concentrically mounted on said base is a narrow ring @l5 having a thin, flat annular flange fili extending outwardly therefrom. Integral with said ange is a projecting at teat extending outwardly therefrom. The flange 45 may be secured to said base by soldering after it has been properly positioned thereon so that it is so disposed on said base as to be accurately 'located transversely on said base, at a predetermined distance from said filaments 'd2 and in a predetermined plane, with the teat 46 bearing a predetermined angular relationship with respect to the filaments 42. Secured to the ring 45 are a plurality of, and as shown, three, narrow and relatively thin blades 4l of the same width and length. These blades 41 are parallel to and evenly spaced from each other, extend downwardly an appreciable distance from the ring 43 and terminate upwardly from the lower extremity of the base 43. The vlower `ends of each blade 41. is bent in the form of a V with the apex '43 thereof being Voutermost away from the base 43.

The lowermost leg of the V is V shaped with the apex being at its lowest extremity. The distance between the lower face of the ring 45 and apices 48 is predetermined.

In the assembly operation the re ector In which may have a thin mirror-like reflecting surface layer 49 of silver, Alzak aluminum 'or the Alike on the inner or outer surface or both -surfaces thereof rst has fitted into the recesses I2 and I3 thereof a thin gasket or washer 50 composed of rubber, leather or the like. Then the lamp assembly is demountably mounted on the reflector by inserting through the front side of the reilector the lamp assembly with the contact blades 44 rst entering the opening II in the insertion step, and the assembly being turned until the blades 41 are in registry with the slots it. Then the lamp assembly is pushed further toward the reflector until the ange 45 strikes the reflector. In this position the ring 45 is located in the opening Il. The assembly is rotated until the teat 46 `seats in recess I3 and the flange 45 into the recess I2. The flange 45 is pushed against the resilient gasket 50 and then a split spring ring I is expanded over the apices 48 of the blades 4l and pushed against the surface I4. Then the ring 5I is released and snaps into position between the surface I4 and the V shaped parts of blades 41 to lock firmly the lamp to the reflector. The lamp so mounted in the reflector has its filaments 42 located in a predetermined position and lat a predetermined angular position with respect to a focal point of the reflector I0.

The resilient gasket is then mounted ilat wise on the platform I8 and the lens 25 is mounted on the reflector I0 with the glass bead 2S thereof resting on the gasket 25. The cla-mp 3f! is snapped around the flanges I'.' and 27 with the gasket 25 therebetween and with the lug or teat 29 lotated in the slot 33. Then the clamp lill and the lens are rotated in unison with respect to the reflector l until the lugs 2t it into the slots 36 and the lugs 26, 2l and 2 t into the slots 3?. Thus the clamp slots in the flanges 32 and 33 cooperate with the lugs on the reflector' I and lens 26 to insure that the lens 25 can be mounted in one way only. When the clamp is in this position, the under face of the flange 33 is contiguous with the upper face of the flange 2'! and the upper face of the flange 32 is contiguous with the under` face I9 of flange Il. The bolt 39 is inserted through the openings in the ears 34 and vthe nut is threadedly drawn up on the bolt to force the ears 34 towardseach other and lock the lens 2B to the reflector ill. Besides locking these elements to each other, the clamp 3d maintains the air-tightseal vbetween the lens 26 and Areflector Ill. The `clamp 3o forces the bead 2li into 'the gasket 25 and against the platform Vi9 to seal these elements.

It is clear that the foregoing headlight may be readily repaired by the replacing therefor any element that may become damaged or vburned-out and that the repair may be .readily Icarried Vout even by an unskilled workman in a fool-proof 'and easy manner due to the particular elements and combination of parts.

Instead of employing the fla-nge with the teat fili, it is within the purview of this invention employ another type of asymmetrical 4flange shown in Figure 6 in place of the asymmetrical liange Yconsisting of the flange 45 and teat 46. The flange 55 is a at annulus having a sector thereof `out away to denne a straight portion 56. When this flange '55 is used, the recess I2 and I3 will 'be replaced by a recess corresponding to the contour lof the flange 5'5 so that the lamp may be mounted in the reflector Iii in one way only. While only ltwo rings 'of different contours are show-n, any number of other asymmetrical contours may Ibe employed.

lSince certain changes may be made in the shown in the accompanying drawings shall be 5 interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Iclaim: l. The combination of a lamp comprising a bulb having a light source therein and a base l0 having a transversely extending flange of asymmetrical contour accurately located with respect to said light source, a reflector having an opening therethrough at the apex end thereof, a recess in the interior of said reflector at the apex end thereof, the contour of said recess being similar to the contour of said flange, a plurality of slots in the recessed portion of said reflector, said slots com municating with said opening and being substantially equally spaced from each other, a plurality 0 0 of blades secured to said base and extending lon,- gitudinally thereof, said blades terminating with# in the ends of said base, the radial Vdistance be; tween the outer surface of the upper portion of each of said blades and the longitudinal center line oi said base being no greater than the radius of the opening in the apex end of said reflector` and less than the radial distance from the center of said opening tothe outer end of said slots, and

the radial distance between the lower portion of said blades and the longitudinal center line of said base being greater than the radius of said opening and less than the distance between the center of said opening and the outer end of said slots, said blades and base extending through said opening and said flange located in said recess, and demountable means cooperating with said blades and reflector to lock said lamp to said reflector, said demountable means located exteriorly of said reflector.

2. The combination of a lamp comprising a bulb having a light source therein and a base having a transversely extending flange of Iasymmetrical contour accurately located with respect to said light source, a reflector having an opening therethrough at the apex end thereof, a recess in the interior of said reflector at the apex end thereof, the contour of said recess being similar to the contour of said flange, a plurality of slots in the recessed portion of said reflector, said slots communicating with said opening, a plurality of blades extending longitudinally of said base, the radial distance between the outer surface of the upper portion of each of said blades and the longitudinal center line of said base being no greater than the radius of the opening in the apex end of said reflector and less than the radial distance from the center of said opening to the outer end of Said slots and the radial distance between the lower portion of said blades and the f longitudinal center line of said base being greater than the radius of said opening and less than the distance between the center of said opening and the outer end of said slots, said blades and base extending through said opening and said flange located in said recess, and means cooperating with said blades and reflector to lock said lamp to said reector from the rear of said reflector.

lVIICHAEL P. PORTNOW. 

